Holiday DIY

Last month my family and I took an amazing trip through Europe, starting in Paris to Oktoberfest in Munich, then Prague to visit my little Sister, and finally, the most beautiful, Strasbourg! I took so SO many photos on my iPhone along the way, and I was looking for a fun way to print and display them at home, and then I discovered the FUJIFILM instax SHARE® SP-3 SQ printer! It was SUPER easy to print out the snaps I took in each country straight from my phone or Instagram via the instax SHARE app. And they just look so darn cute in the old school format.
Next, was figuring out how to display them. I thought it would be to fun to sandwich the photos between two inexpensive pieces of glass I bought at the hardware store. Then, I constructed a frame out of wood, so the glass could slide in and out. That way I can change out the photos often! Since it’s the Thanksgiving season, and I am beyond grateful for the experiences I had abroad with my family, I wanted to add a message of gratitude to the frame. I have ALWAYS wanted to try my hand and wood burning, and I was surprised at how easy it was to create a custom message. The hardest part is waiting for each letter stamp to heat up (patience is not a virtue of mine, ha!). All the steps and supplies after the break:(more…)

It’s Summer Summer Time! And I am gearing up to host a few get-togethers at my house, and wanted to create a seasonal centerpiece. This one is as easy as piling up a bunch of citrus fruits! When you are done, break out the juicer and make orange popsicles or mimosas for the following afternoon 😉 For a little something special, I sliced a few oranges in half, scooped out the inside, and add a wick then filled with granulated wax to create a quick candle!

What to do:
Use a platter or plate to ground your centerpiece. It’s easier to have a base before placing your fruits so that they don’t roll around.
Start layering up your assorted citrus fruits. The more variety of fruits you purchase, the more visually interesting the centerpiece will look. Try to alternate color tones and sizes in your layering.
Next add in the greenery. Place the greenery in and around the fruits to add contrast.
Stand back and view your creation as a whole. If you notice any holes, go back and fill them in with that extra kumquat or eucalyptus sprig.
For the candles, slice an orange in half.
Scoop out the inners with a spoon. Snack as you go, of course.
Place the wick in the middle of the orange.
Pour the granulated wax around the wick and fill up the orange half.

It’s been SO fun seeing a bunch of you make my braided rope wreaths on social media! If you have any left over materials, I have perfect way to use them! I’ll admit, in the past I was always intimidated by perfectly wrapped gifts, but it’s amazing how even if your corners aren’t perfect, when you you hot glue on some flare, your gift instantly looks pretty darn festive! Links to supplies after the break…(more…)